LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The last question about NBC's 2010-11 returning class has been answered: "Heroes" won't be back for a fifth season.

Multiple sources have confirmed the decision, which closes the books on the serial drama after 78 episodes.

Going into the week, indicators were that - at best - a two-to-four-hour send-off was in the cards.

However with the Peacock's focus on rebranding itself with new shows from creators like J.J. Abrams ("Undercovers") and David E. Kelley ("Harry's Law"), revisiting its fallen "Heroes" franchise wasn't deemed ideal - at least for the time being.